This Exchange is with Quaker Inspired "The Workbasket Quaker Animal Exchange", and we could choose and stitch one of Animal from The Workbasket's Quaker Animal charts, and he stitched "Quaker Rooseter" for me and made it into "Pyn Keepe" (which is what he calls about Pinkeep).

How gorgeous is this!
His stitching is amazingly beautiful!!
He stitched Rooster by Belle Soie "Creme de Menthe" silk thread and stitched my initials by Cresent Clours!
Oh I do really love this Pyn Keepe! Beautiful indeed!

What sweet presents!

Thank you SO SO SO much, Edgar!
I'd really appreciate for your wonderful Pyn Keepe and so many goodies!
And of course for your kind heart!

Labels: Exchanges, Pinkeeps, Quaker

By the way, this early morning I did drawing to pick up 3 person for my PIF member!
Thank you so much everyone for signing up for my PIF.
I'd really appreciate for you all.


I asked my son to pick up 3 pieces of paper, and he picked up these three names!

• Jennifer (Sweet Pea Stitches)

• Margaret S. (Margaret My Blog)

• Staci (Snippets and Stash)
  
  
  
  I will contact you all to let you know that you all became my PIF member,
  so please let me know your snail mail address later!
  
  Again, thank you so much for everone who signed up for my PIF!
  I'd appreciate for them all.
  When the next time I signed up someones PIF,
  I will do the same thing again on this blog, so please look forward to it.
  
  
  

Labels: Flowers, Photographs, PIF

Anyway, the Jazz concert by MJO (Manhattan Jazz Orchestra) was great!
My husband and I like Jazz, but basically we love slow jazz, so it was almost the first time for us to listen to big band, but I thought it was fantastic, their performance was wonderful!

After the concert was finished, we bought their CD and there was an autograph session of the conductor also a producer David Mathew, so we asked him an autograph on the CD. (Can you see his autograph on yellow CD?)
I tried to speak to him in English and talked a bit with him! He was very gentle and we shook hands with smile!
I was so happy that he could understand my English, I was a bit nervous but there is almost no chance to speak English in Japan, so I tried it!!
We had great time at concert and I think it became nice memory of our anniversary!



By the way, back to stitching subject, I've decided to start EMS Project 2008 "Rose Sampler"!
I was very busy working on Exchange pieces in June, but as I finished them and saw my friend's beautiful piece of "Rose Sampler", I couldn't stop starting it!

My friend used like un-breached (maybe) fabric and very dark brown thread (DMC #3371), and I thought that it was very beautiful combination!

So I asked her if I could copy her combination!
I didn't want this to be too romantic nor too elegant, so this combination is perfect to me!
This photo doesn't show the colour justice, but in the real life, it's very natural and beautiful!

Here is the present progress! I haven't decided the shade colours yet, so there is only single coloured stitch, though...

It was very fun to stitch this design, and I just have finished Part 1.
However there are already published Part 1 to 6, so I'm 5 months behind now...
Soon Part 7 will be published, so actually I'm 6 months behind, but as it was very fun, I think I will be able to go forward a little bit faster than usual!



By the way, thank you so much for signing up for my PIF member.
I will do drawing to pick up 3 person for the member, later tonight!
I will let you know about the result on this blog maybe tomorrow (on Monday), so please check it!



Design : EMS Project 2008 "Rose Sampler" (Freebie)
Fabric : 28ct Wichelt Country French / Cafe Mocha Linen
Thread : DMC #3371

Labels: Concert, EMS Rose Sampler, SAL

, someday in the future!
And I'm going to use cotton dishcloths from tonight!
Thank you very much, Staci! I'd really appreciate for your kind heart!

Now it's the rainy season in Japan, but today the weather is very fine!
So I have done lots of gardening, weed an overgrown garden and picked some plums from the trees.
But I need to weed a garden again and again, though...

I made plum sour juice with some plums which I picked today!
I have been letting it mature now, it takes three weeks to become the matured juice.
I love plum taste very much, so I'm very looking forward to the day I can taste it!!

But actually when I came close to him and saw it deeply, they were not sprouts, but mould all around...
I'm sad, but I think I should say good bye to him...

By the way, as I wrote on the last post, there is time difference between most of people and I, so I decided to draw and pick up 3 person for my PIF member.
So, I have been still taking sign up PIF member until this coming Sunday!
There are already more than 3 person who is signing up for it, so please feel free to leave comment on the last post, if you are interested in!

Labels: Cooking, Gifts, Giveaway, PIF

I've signed up for Sally's PIF (Pay It Forward) member the other day!
I had been interested in PIF very much from a long time ago, but I couldn't have found the owner of PIF at all, so when I found that Sally was taking PIF sign up members on her blog, I immediately asked her if I still could be a member of hers.
I'm so happy that I know her stitching is very beautiful!!

And so, this is my turn.


*** This is how it works ***

If you would like to receive something made by me within the next 365 days, please comment on this post to say that you are interested.

*The rule is "the first three" person will receive something, but there is time difference between most of people and I, so I change this part a bit...
"If there was less than three person, of course I will choose them as my PIF member, but if, if there were more than three person, I would do drawing to choose three person later! "

Labels: PIF

The Jazz concert will be held on this coming Saturday, it's by MJO (Manhattan Jazz Orchestra)!
I'm so excited and very looking forward to going there with him!

Labels: Anniversary, Photographs

Here is Banurukotti (or Panurukotti, I don't know how to spell it exactly...) which is a kind of Korean style pincushion!
My friend referred how to make it, but sew each pieces together like when you make Biscornu.
It does need 15 pieces of square to make one pincushion, it's amazing, isn't it!
And please look how beautiful this is! Her works are always perfect!!

And here is also a pincushion in the small basket which is also made by my friend.
It's very tiny and so lovely! I do really love her taste, always!
She is also a very talented lady!!

Compare to their wonderful works, my sewing case is nothing!!!
Their works are so beautiful and sweet, I love them all!!
You see, my friends are so talented, don't you think?
I'm so proud of them and am so happy to have met them online as well as in person!

We are going to meet up next month again, they might be coming to my home next time, or we will go out for sight seeing as where I live is a famous sight seeing place!
I'm very looking forward to see them again!!

By the way, here is my Grass Hedgehog!
She is growing a little by little...
The photo was taken on 22nd of June.
My Grass Dog has dead... I hope he will recover soon...

Yesterday, we had very terrible incident...

When we went out for shopping and when we park, an old guy picked a fight with my husband, and they had argue, actually I was going to arbitrate it, but the old guy called me "Bi*ch!!", that drove me so mad, and so involuntary I jumped in their argument!! lol

Once their (our) argument has finished, we parked and went shopping, but after we finished shopping and went back to the parking lot, our car was intentionally and terribly scratched, deeply and very long (one was about 60cm, and the other scratch was about 40cm) by key!!!!!
I couldn't believe it!!! It's obviously him, that nasty old guy!
After a long time I got angry so much, and I couldn't sleep at all last night...

We called policeman and we all watched through the video tape for prevention of crime, but it didn't show the place where we parked at all, so it couldn't help us at all...

It was so stressful day, and so I had stomachache...
Come to the conclusion, we had to swallow it... sigh (;'~';)

Labels: Gifts, Grass Hedgehog, Pincushions, Pinkeeps

This time I used Pearl Pin for Top pin, and also used red flower ribbon.
Was this too much? My husband said that it's too much, lol

Here is a photo of pins, this time I used simple red and white making pins for both sides of pinkeep.

And here is a photo of the backing fabric which I used for this pinkeep.

I don't know she liked it or not, as I haven't been hearing from her yet.
But I do hope she liked it and as well as some goodies that I added in a parcel...

As I promised, I will post some presents from my Japanese friends in the next post!

And also, my turf kit in hedgehog is growing a little by little, and vice versa my Grass Dog is dead... so I cut all his hair (turf), and waiting for it will grow again...
I will take a photo of them and will post in the next post, too!

Design : "Baby Alphabet" © Sheepish Designs (Freebie)
Fabric : 32ct Belfast Linen (White)
Thread : DMC #115

Finished as : Pinkeep

Labels: Freebie, HOE, Sheepish Designs

Here is when it is opened, it's like flower, isn't it!
I stitched a girl motif (freebie © Casa Mia), and I added a heart shaped coconut button on the back.

Here is the inside of sewing case. I added red gingham small flower and also some pins, and printed tags as something extra.

Here are close up photos of additional stuffs.
I like this small red gingham flower very much, and my friends also liked it!

I was quite anxious to give this to them, because they all are very talented ladies...

But I'm so glad that they were very happy to received this!
Their lovely words for this sewing case was well worth making very hard in short time!

My friend's house was so wonderful and she has so many cross stitch books! and we could see so many wonderful works of her today, they all feasted my eyes very much!!

Anyway, we had great time! We will plan to gather again, maybe in the next month!
I'm looking forward to seeing them again!

By the way, some of them brought presents as well, and they all are so great!

I will take photos on a sunny day (from tomorrow, it will rain, though...) and share their photos on the next post!

Design : Freebie © Casa Mia
Fabric : 32ct Belfast Linen (Ivory)
Thread : DMC
Finished as : Sewing case

Labels: Freebie, Gifts, Sewing Case

And the back of this pinkeep, she stitched my name!

Very pretty, isn't it! I LOVE IT very much!
The fabric which is printed lovely flowers on the light blue, she gave me for my Tilda works!

Here is a close up photo of pins and ribbon which she used.
She used light green satin ribbon and this colour and pink are very beautifully match!

I just had been drawing for LHN chart before, and I picked up a piece of paper which Maria's name was on.

She really pleased it and in return, she gave me such a wonderful present.

It was just drawing, so I told her not to need sending me anything in return, but she kindly presented me such beautiful stuffs!

Thank you so much Maria! I'd really appreciate for your kindness!
I will definitely treasure them for a long long time!

Labels: Gifts, Pinkeeps

Then that reminds me that I've just entered the draw for his Polaroid picture with his autograph at somewhere online, Yes, that's right! I won it!
I was so happy and was almost going to jump with happiness, although it might sound a bit childish!
I'm still happy to see his photo everyday (it displays on the shelf where my works are), but my husband always tease me and says "He closes his eyes, doesn't he! Poor you, to be honest, this photo is rubbish! lol!"
Actually I thought the same at the first, but even though he closes his eyes, I don't mind, lol

Here is his song titled "Niji (=rainbow)", this is one of my favourite song and this song was made by him and his friend and was dedicated to the Junior high school chorus contest as a set piece.

By the way, I have just started another turf kit in "Hedgehog" version!
This photo was taken on 13th of June.

I just sowed this morning, and have to cover the soil with foil until it sprouts up.

I don't know how long it will take until it sprouts up, but I'm so looking forward to seeing it grows!

I will report of this Hedgehog and also a Grass Dog from now on!
Please look forward to seeing them!

Labels: Grass Hedgehog, Naotaro Moriyama, Songs

She used lace to cover strings, it's a nice idea and also very beautiful!

And she used lavender polka dot fabric for inside.
I love her taste very much, very natural and lovely!

Thank you so much S. for your kind heart!
I'm so happy that we could get along together so well!
Also our children (her daughter and my son) could get along together and they played together very much!
So we could talk and eat (lol) a lot!!

This time we didn't stitch together, but next time when we will be able to meet up, I want to stitch something small together!

Anyway, we could have wonderful time!
Thanks for visited me, S.
I really enjoyed our time, please come over here again whenever you have time!

By the way, here is my Grass Dog, a photo was taken on 11th, June.

Finally I cut his hair, I imagined Hidetoshi Nakata (ex-football player)'s hair style when he was an active player (now he has medium long hair).
But, it doesn't look like him at all!
It's like just an Onigiri (a rice ball), lol

I just started this as half-jokingly, but actually it is becoming quite fun to look after him!
Even though, wipe off his moldy face, it's fun, lol

My friend's daughter liked this dog very much, and also my son does!

Well... His hair grew enough, so I will try another turf kit (hedgehog one) sometime later!

Labels: Gifts, Grass Doggie

Here is a photo of backing fabric which I used for this "Darumachan", I thought that this is perfect for this stitched piece.

I used cardboard for inside of this doll's head part, and added cotton inside.
To finish this off was a bit difficult, but it was fun!
I hope my friend will like it!

Here is my Grass Dog, a photo was taken on 7th of June.

Oh no, he is funny, I should cut his hair soon!
I'm thinking a lot how to cut his hair, uhmmm...
I also need to trim his mustache (it's his roots)!

Actually, day by day his face become moldy, and I have to wipe them off... ('~';)
Yes, he is a dirty man! lol

I found some kinds of these funny grass plants online, and am very interested in them!

But I have hedgehog one, too, so would try it first, after this Grass Dog!

Next time, I will be able to show you his (this grass dog) new hair style!
Please look forward to seeing him!

Design : "Darumachan" (freebie) © A Word
Fabric : 28ct DMC linen (white)
Threads : DMC
Finished as : Tape Measure Cover

Labels: Freebie, Grass Doggie, Tape Measure Cover

I've been telling him about my friends, so he already knows about Carol R. he says "aunt Carol", and as he is crazy for cars, he knows what kind of car Carol R. does have! :D


Carol sent him a present for his Birthday!
She knew that my son is crazy for cars, so she has expressly ordered MINIs for my son, as she has own REAL black BMW MINI and my son knew about it!

Every night, he goes to bed with toy cars, and sleeps with them, but since he has received MINIs from her, he goes to bed with MINIs every night!

Also since he's got English children's books, I have been reading him books, but...
I can't understand the story at all, even basic words in the books, LOL

Oh my English ability is worth than three years old, LOL!!
I thought I must learn English more and more!!! ('~';)

Carol also sent some things for me as well!
A postcard of her town, her original scissor fob's instruction, a very beautiful keyring with initial "Y".

Thank you so much Carol for your sweet heart!

Your parcel made our day indeed!

We would really appreciate for your kindness and generosity!

He called his grand mother (my mum) and told her that he has received MINIs from Carol in the UK!
I was so happy to heard of it from him, "Carol = MINI" this diagram is in his mind exactly now!

Labels: Birthdays, Gifts

(I took photos again on a sunny day, and replaced them!)

Last week, I've received a parcel from my HoE (Hooked on Exchange) Freebie Exchange partner Gwen!
I was so excited to open it, and I found wonderful gifts from her!
Here they are, she stitched Workbasket Quaker Animal (Hedgehog) Freebie and made it into a sewing case!
And since I've wrote that I didn't know how to do hemstitch, she gave me an instruction book by Gloria and Pat!
What a thoughtful gift it is! Thank you Gwen!


These days, the weather in Japan (around here) is gloomy all the time, so I couldn't take good photos of her gifts...
But they are so beautiful in the real life!
She stitched it on light blue fabric with over dyed thread, and added scissors and fob and also very fine needles together!


Once this lovely sawing case is opened, the shape become like flower!
Beautiful and a nice idea, isn't it?!
I really love this very much!
I would like to steal this idea from hers and make sewing case in the future!!

She also stitched my initials and her initials and "HoE 2008" on the back of this sewing case!
It will be very nice keepsake forever!

Here is an inside fabric of this sewing case which she used for.
This is beautiful and very suit well for this stitched piece and thread colour!

Thank you so much again, Gwen!
Your exchange made my day indeed!
I'd appreciate for your wonderful gifts, too!

Labels: Freebie, HOE, Sewing Case